Valacyclovir-associated neurotoxicity (VAN) is a recognized adverse effect in elderly patients with renal impairment but remains underdiagnosed due to its nonspecific presentation and overlap with acute neurologic emergencies. We report a 78-year-old Filipino female with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis who developed acute disorientation, agitation, vivid visual hallucinations and generalized weakness shortly after initiation of valacyclovir for herpes zoster. Given the abrupt onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms, viral encephalitis was initially considered. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed no evidence of acute infarction or encephalitis, while electroencephalography demonstrated diffuse generalized slowing consistent with an encephalopathic process. Review of the medication history revealed valacyclovir dosing that exceeded recommendations for patients with end-stage renal disease. Valacyclovir was discontinued and emergent hemodialysis was initiated resulting in marked improvement in sensorium after the second session and complete resolution of symptoms after the third. This case shows VAN as an important diagnostic mimic of acute encephalopathy in elderly patients with renal failure and emphasizes the critical role of early medication review in preventing unnecessary investigations and enabling prompt, reversible management.

Eleven sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracted fraction of 95% ethanol extract of fresh Centipeda minima by using modern chromatographic separation techniques such as silica gel, MCI, gel, and semi-preparative liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified using spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) calculation as minimin A(1), brevilin A(2), minimolide L(3), minimolide A(4), minimolide B(5), arnicolide D(6), microhelenin C(7), 2β-hydroxyl-2,3-dihydrogen-6-O-angeloylplenolin(8), 11α,13-dihydroarnifolin(9),(1S,2R,5R,6S,7S,8S,10R)-6-hydroxy-2-ethoxy-4-oxopseudoguai-11(13)-en-12,8-olide(10), and pulchellin-2-O-isovalerate(11), among which compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 9-11 were isolated from Centipeda for the first time. The evaluation results of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity showed that compounds 1-11 possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity, with IC_(50) values ranging from(0.13±0.03) to(13.11±0.17) μmol·L~(-1).
Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Asteraceae/chemistry* ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Molecular Structure ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Macrophages/immunology*

The chemical constituents of the petroleum ether extract derived from the 90% ethanol extract of Elephantopus scaber were investigated. By silica gel column chromatography, C_(18), MCI column chromatography and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography, ten compounds were isolated. Their structures were identified as 3β-hydroxy-6β,7β-epoxytaraxeran-14-ene(1), 3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid(2), D-friedoolean-14-ene-3β,7α-diol(3), 3β-hydroxy-11α-methoxyolean-12-ene(4), 3β-hydroxyolean-11,13(18)-diene(5), 11α-hydroxy-β-amyrin(6), betulinic acid(7), 3β-hydroxy-30-norlupan-20-one(8), 6-acetonylchelerythrine(9), and 4',5'-dehydrodiodictyonema A(10) by analysis of the 1D NMR, 2D NMR, MS, and IR spectral data. Among them, compound 1 was a new triterpene and other compounds except compounds 2 and 7 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Triterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Asteraceae/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The seed kernel of Momordica cochinchinensis, i.e., Momordicae Semen, is used for medicinal purposes, but to date, no research has been reported on its chemical constituents. In this study, the chemical constituents of Momordicae Semen were investigated for the first time using silica gel column chromatography, semi-preparative HPLC, HR-MS, and NMR. As a result, eight compounds were isolated and identified as: p-hydroxybenzoic acid-7-O-trehaloside(mubeside A, 1), 2,6-dimethoxyphenol-O-β-D-apiosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucoside(mubeside B, 2), 1-O-p-methoxybenzoyl-1,4-benzenediol-4-O-β-D-apiosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucoside(mubeside C, 3), 1-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-1,4-benzenediol-4-O-β-D-apiosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucoside(mubeside D, 4), gypsogenin-3-O-β-D-galactosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucuronoside(5), quillaic acid-3-O-β-D-galactosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucuronoside(6), violanthin(7), and kaempferitrin(8). Compounds 1-4 are new compounds, while compounds 5-8 were isolated from Momordicae Semen for the first time.
Glycosides/isolation & purification* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

The chemical constituents of sesquiterpenes from 95% ethanol extract of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum were isolated and purified by various column chromatography techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, octadecylsilyl(ODS), and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Their planar structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by ultraviolet(UV) spectrometry, infrared(IR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry(MS), nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR), electronic circular dichroism(ECD), and other techniques. Eight sesquiterpenoids were isolated and identified as(+)-(7R,10R)-selina-4,11-dien-12-dimethoxy-15-al(1),(+)-(7R,10R)-selina-4,11-diene-12,15-dial(2), agalleudesmanol B(3), aquisinenoid C(4), 12,15-dioxo-α-selinen(5), agarospiranic aldehyde B(6), neopetasane(7), and eremophila-7(11),9-dien-8-one(8). Compound 1 was a new compound, and it was the first time to find a dimethoxy substitution on the side chain of eudesmane-type sesquiterpene skeleton.
Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Thymelaeaceae/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The chemical constituents of the chloroform extract of the 90% methanol extract obtained from the dried branches and leaves of Croton lauioides were investigated. By using silica gel column chromatography, C_(18 )column chromatography, MCI column chromatography, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), six compounds were isolated. Their structures were identified as lauioidine(1), 2α-methoxy-8α-hydroxy-6-oxogermacra-1(10),7(11)-dien-8,12-olide(2), myrrhanolide B(3), gossweilone(4), 6β,7β-epox-4α-hydroxyguaian-10-ene(5), and 4(15)-eudesmane-1β,5α-diol(6) by analyzing the HR-ESI-MS, IR, ECD, 1D NMR and 2D NMR data, as well as their physicochemical properties. All compounds were isolated from C. lauioides for the first time, among which compound 1 is a new nor-clerodane diterpenoid.
Croton/chemistry* ; Diterpenes, Clerodane/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

The chemical constituents from Cephalotaxus lanceolata were isolated and purified by using multiple chromatographic techniques, including octadecylsilane(ODS), silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). A total of 17 compounds obtained were identified by using spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR), mass spectrometry(MS), and ultraviolet(UV) combined with literature data. Compound 1 was a new alkaloid dimer, named cephalancetine E. The known compounds were determined as cephalancetine A(2), 11-hydroxycephalotaxine(3), 4-hydroxycephalotaxine(4), cephalotaxine(5), epicephalotaxine(6), cephalotaxine β-N-oxide(7), acetylcephalotaxine(8), cephalotine A(9), cephalotine B(10), 11-hydroxycephalotaxine hemiketal(11), 3-deoxy-3,11-epoxy-cephalotaxine(12), cephalotaxinone(13), isocephalotaxinone(14), 2,11-epoxy-1,2-dihydro-8-oxo-cephalotaxine(15), cephalotaxamide(16), and drupacine(17), respectively. Compounds 11, 12, and 15 were isolated from the Cephalotaxus genus for the first time. The biological activity was tested for compounds 1-17. The results reveal that compound 17 displays potent inhibitory activities against three human cancer cell lines(HepG-2, MCF-7, and SH-SY5Y).
Cephalotaxus/chemistry* ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Harringtonines/pharmacology* ; Molecular Structure ; Dimerization ; Alkaloids/isolation & purification* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

In this study, we systematically tested the hypothesis that during the critical developmental period of adolescence, on a macro scale, the concentrations of major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters (glutamate/glutamine and γ‑aminobutyric acid [GABA]) in the dorsal and ventral lateral prefrontal cortex are associated with the brain's functional connectivity and an individual's psychopathology. Neurotransmitters were measured via magnetic resonance spectroscopy while functional connectivity was measured with resting-state fMRI (n = 121). Seed-based and network-based analyses revealed associations of neurotransmitter concentrations and functional connectivities between regions/networks that are connected to prefrontal cortices via structural connections that are thought to be under dynamic development during adolescence. These regions tend to be boundary areas between functional networks. Furthermore, several connectivities were found to be associated with individual's levels of internalizing psychopathology. These findings provide insights into specific neurochemical mechanisms underlying the brain's macroscale functional organization, its development during adolescence, and its potential associations with symptoms associated with internalizing psychopathology.
Humans ; Adolescent ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism* ; Prefrontal Cortex/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Glutamine/metabolism* ; Female ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Nerve Net/metabolism* ; Neural Pathways ; Connectome

Amoenucles A-F (1-6), six previously undescribed nucleoside derivatives, and two known analogs (7 and 8) were isolated from the culture of Aspergillus amoenus TJ507. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and chemical reactions. Notably, 3 and 4 represent the first reported instances of nucleosides with an attached pyrrole moiety. Of particular significance, the absolute configuration of the sugar moiety of 1-4 was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electric circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and a hydrolysis reaction, presenting a potentially valuable method for confirming nucleoside structures. Furthermore, 1, 2, and 5-8 exhibited potential tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitory activities, which may provide a novel chemical template for the development of agents targeting autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Aspergillus/chemistry* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Molecular Structure ; Nucleosides/isolation & purification* ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

In this study, we employed a combination of genome mining and heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC)-based small molecule accurate recognition technology (SMART) technology to search for fernane-type triterpenoids. Initially, potential endophytic fungi were identified through genome mining. Subsequently, fine fractions containing various fernane-type triterpenoids were selected using HSQC data collection and SMART prediction. These triterpenoids were then obtained through targeted isolation and identification. Finally, their antifungal activity was evaluated. As a result, three fernane-type triterpenoids, including two novel compounds, along with two new sesquiterpenes and four known compounds were isolated from one potential strain, Diaporthe discoidispora. Their structures were elucidated through analysis of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and electron capture detector (ECD) analysis. Compound 3 exhibited moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans CMCC 98001 and Aspergillus niger.
Triterpenes/isolation & purification* ; Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Candida albicans/drug effects* ; Ascomycota/genetics* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Aspergillus niger/drug effects* ; Genome, Fungal ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests